Hex-Crawl Tips & Contest Update
The Welsh Piper just posted a very well-timed article with advice for creating hex crawl encounters. I think it is well-timed because last week we kicked off a hex crawl location “contest.”
I put contest in quotes because all you have to do is send in eight 80-200 word locations. The prize is a get a free license to Hexographer Pro (or any other Inkwell Ideas product such as Dungeonographer, the Coat of Arms Design Studio or a set of DungeonMorph Dice or Cards.) So far 6 of the 12 prizes have been claimed. The contest runs until we receive 12 submissions or March 31, 2012. Details are on the linked contest page.
Here are a few example from the submissions-to-date:
[Mountains] Battle Glacier – Charles Reynolds
Some time, long ago, a large battle was fought during a snow storm. It snowed so violently, the soldiers were encased in ice. Bodies of the warriors can be seen through the face of the glacier, many still locked in combat. Sometimes it calves and a quick scavenger can pick up ancient weapons and armor from the base if they are willing to brave further ice falls. Most of it is heavily damaged from the crushing pressures of the glacial ice but, sometimes, a piece of real value is found.
[Grassland] Hive of the Ant People – Elmer Tucker
A large sinkhole, some three hundred feet in diameter cleaves out of the surrounding grasslands sharply. It seems that the earth surrounding the edge of the pit has been packed into a dangerously rough looking ramp. The sinkhole descends several hundred feet, and a wilderness-themed character will easily be able to tell that any tracks in the area are reminiscent of giant ants. However, the ants here are more akin to centaurs, but walk upon six legs, with a pair of arms above. This sinkhole has recently opened up, exposing their underground realm, and they are alerted by the pheromones of any intruders very quickly
[Grassland] The Skeletons’ Tavern – Jan Pralle
A large house sits next to a small stream. A demolished bridge leads over the stream next to it. The house itself is in a state of progressing decay. The roof has caved in, the windows are all broken and the shutters dangle on their hinges and squeak faintly with the wind. The place seems nice as a shelter for the night. It was a tavern once, as the large common room with its long bar state. Every single chair is still occupied; occupied by a skeleton. Even behind the counter the skeleton of a once sturdy man leans at the cupboards still full of dusty tankards. Some skeletons have been torn half of their seat, probably by wild animals. None of them still have a bit of flesh on their bones. In the back of the house you find several storage rooms, all full of rotten foodstuff. The kitchen is the same, but also with a skeleton of what must have been a stumpy women. The guest rooms in the upper level are all empty, except for furnishings. The tavern seems to have all the equipment it needs, but there is nothing of worth to be found, not even a purse of one of the guests or the earnings of the innkeeper.
[Jungle or Forest] The Face of Fate – Bob Morris
The characters find a limestone cliff covered in vines. A stern face with an ornate headdress is carved into the face of the cliff. The mouth of the face is opened wide enough that a character could easily slip a hand inside. The half-rotten remains of fruit, native totems, and other offerings can be seen inside the mouth. If the characters look straight into the mouth, they will also see a glint of light reflected from something inside. Characters reaching into the mouth have an equal chance of finding a small totem made of gold and gems (10-20 gp value), a large uncut gem (50-200 gp value uncut, 500-1000 gp cut and polished), an aggressive venomous snake, or 1-3 giant centipedes.
[Forest] Crow’s Cage – Gregory MacKenzie
Crows call, and scatter as you approach. An iron crows cage swings from the strong limb of an oak. The ground under the oak is littered with bone and scraps of cloth. The crows continue to circle overhead above the tree canopy, calling noisily, for they soon expect a meal. The only time anyone ever comes here is to imprison someone. The crows soon settle in nearby trees to watch. The cage is locked with a padlock, its bottom is covered with a pelt. The pelt conceals bent bars which some enterprising escapee has pulled apart. There is just enough room for a medium unfortunate to wriggle through.
[Marsh/Swamp] Eldil’s Folly – Erin Smale
A crumbling windmill, its blades tattered and rotting, lists in the swamp. This is all that remains of Eldil the Cunning’s final investment – an attempt to undermine the local lord’s monopoly by milling flour out of swamp reeds and honeydew. Eldil’s fate is unknown, though it’s suspected that he went into hiding after tricking a trio of knights into funding a ziggurat scheme. There is nothing of value in the mill, though it can provide a night of dry shelter free of wandering monsters.
My thanks to everyone who has participated!